We knew Leo was going to stay with us for six weeks, and yet when the time came for him to go, only half of me was ready for it. The half that didn't like to see spots on the carpet where he had thrown up during the night. The kids were not too happy either.
One evening during Leo's stay, Dad decided to share a secret with us. He told us that every evening when his car turned onto our street he started thinking about seeing us all, and felt happy. Lately though, it was the fact that Leo would be there that made him very very glad! Although my baby....okay he'll be twelve real soon....thought this confession deserved a loud HMPH, he loved Leo enough to understand the sentiment. Plus, having the whole family a little dotty about a dog in the house could only mean that there was one of our own in the near future.
I will miss Leo a lot. He is the only being on this planet who ate my "healthy" ( almost fat free concoctions) happily. Now it'll be back to loud sighs while eating meals....and from certain sections comments about how someone ate much tastier food in their childhood. And, nobody will care when I go to use the bathroom and shut the door. And, nobody will act like they have tickets to go to Disneyland just because I have come home from a grocery run. And, nobody will come yapping at the piano tuner thinking they need to let them know I have a brave sentinel to guard me.....and nobody's ears flop as beautifully as Leo's did when he came running to greet me from some other part of the house.
Leo is back at home, just a few miles away. We have been asked to visit him whenever we want to see him. I think he'll get a lot of visits from his summer relatives!
Are we getting our own dog, you ask. I don't know. I want to relish the sweet memories I have of little love bug Leo for as long as I can before I think of getting another dog.
-'Still-madly-in-love-with-Leo' mama
